Paul McCartney 9/19/17 Brooklyn NY - Review, Videos and Jimmy Fallon's Birthday

I definitely was looking forward to seeing Paul McCartney at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on September 19, 2017.  I'm not a Beatles freak, but I own about half of their catalog and know most of the rest of it from listening to classic rock radio growing up.  I figured I would also know a few big Wings hits, but evidently forgot just how many big hits they had.  I'd never seen McCartney before and I knew it would be a good time.

But it was much more than that.

 

We came up out of the subway to a huge mass of a crowd slowly working their way through the security gates in front of the Barclays Center.  We eventually made it inside the building and then finally through the metal detectors just before the 8 pm start time listed on our tickets.  Not to worry as the show wouldn't start for about another 40 minutes, so we had plenty of time for those of us that wanted to get some merch and then work our way up to the next to last row in the arena, but right next to the stage.

With his catalog, it would be hard not to open with a hit and things started off with "Hard Day's Night" to begin the 3 hour set.  Next up was Wings "Junior's Farm," which by the title I didn't think I knew, but recognized when they got to the chorus.




and the hits kept coming with "Can't Buy Me Love", then "Jet" and back to the Beatles for "All My Loving."

Another visit to the Wings catalog with "Let Me Roll With It" (another "Oh...that's what that song I've heard a million times on the radio is called" moment for me) which led into an instrumental jam of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady".  This was a bit of a tribute as Jimi had died 47 years ago the day prior.  McCartney told a funny story involving Jimi, Sgt. Pepper and Eric Clapton before then playing a great version of the Beatles "I've Got a Feeling."

Here's video I shot of Foxy Lady into I've Got a Feeling:

One of Paul's few solo songs of the night followed with "My Valentine" from his 2012 album "Kisses on the Bottom" before Wings' "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" into "Maybe I'm Amazed" from his first solo album.

At this point Paul acknowledged the signs the crowd brought to his show with messages and requests for him.  There was a 40th anniversary, someone else was just released from the hospital and came right to the show while another had escaped the hurricane damage of the South to make to Brooklyn for Sir Paul.   I'm not sure if this was a request from a sign or what is always played in this slot (although I do see Paul changes up a few songs each night), but we got a great version of "We Can Work It Out" and here's the video:

Next Paul went back to his pre-Beatles band The Quarrymen for "In Spite Of All The Danger" and then another Beatles classic with "You Won't See Me" (video below):

More Beatlemania with "Love Me Do", "And I Love Her" and then "Blackbird."



Paul then came out front, on a raised stage, alone with acoustic guitar for a poignant "Here Today" from 1983's "Tug of War." (video below):

Two more solo songs were next with "Queenie Eye" which is off of his 2013 album "New", the title track of which he played next, then back to the Beatles for "Lady Madonna."



"FourFiveSeconds", his collaboration with Kanye West and Rihanna was next and quite catchy and then "Eleanor Rigby" before telling a little story about how the Rolling Stones were looking for a song to record when they just got signed and Paul and John gave them "I Wanna Be Your Man"  (video below):

Next up was a song Paul said was from an album from 50 years ago, joking "before my time" before playing "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!", the first song to be played off Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band this night.   "Something" followed and then Paul revisited Sgt. Pepper saying this was one they didn't always play but liked to when in the New York City area and "A Day in The Life" was performed and morphed into "Give Peace A Chance" as a loving tribute to John Lennon.  (video below):

We now were entering the home stretch of the main set of the show with "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" into Wings "Band on the Run" back to the Beatles for "Back in the USSR" and "Let It Be."



Overall the stage show, for an arena, is relatively stripped down.  It has great lights and video, but where's the fire and explosions one often sees?  Well Paul saved it all for "Live and Let Die" at which point he went over the top and rocked out while filling the air with massive fireballs and explosions.  This led into a set ending "Hey Jude" with massive singalong.  (Video below):

The band left the stage for a short encore break before returning with "Yesterday" and one more visit to that album of fifty years ago with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" into an electrifying "Helter Skelter"

At this point Paul asked if there was anyone in the crowd celebrating a birthday and he noticed one specific fan up front - Jimmy Fallon!

As you'll see in the video I shot, Jimmy was there celebrating with Saturday Night Live mastermind Lorne Michaels as well as celebrity chef Mario Batali (who also happened to be celebrating a birthday).  Paul plays "Birthday" and then leads the crowd in a singalong of "Happy Birthday" to Jimmy who couldn't look happier.  (video below):

After that Paul told the crowd, "there does come a time when we gotta go home...yeah...and well it coincides with the time you have to go home."  He then thanked the crew and his band and played "Golden Slumbers" / "Carry That Weight" / "The End."  



I looked at the time and it was a few minutes after 11:30.  Paul had played just under three hours and the time flew by.  We raced (well shuffled with the thousands of other attendees) out of the arena onto a packed local subway that made about 15 stops before getting to Grand Central station with just a few minutes to spare to catch the 12:43am train home.  When I finally laid my head down on my pillow at 3:30am knowing I would have to get up soon for work, there was no question this show was absolutely worth it.

If you dug this go to the MostPeopleAreBlank Facebook page by following this link and click the "Like" button to join (as shown below) to be kept up to date on future posts, to comment, share and take part in our giveaways and contests! 

Click any photos to enlarge them to full screen.  Also follow on twitter @MostPeopleBlank   Then, of course, as always - Rock on and Enjoy - Paul

Paul McCartney sings "Birthday" & "Happy Birthday" to Jimmy Fallon LIVE in Brooklyn 9/19/17

Last night, September 19, 2017,  Paul McCartney played an amazing sold out show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

During the encore, before playing the Beatles' "Birthday" he asked if anyone in the house was celebrating a birthday and noticed one specific fan up front - Jimmy Fallon!

As you'll see in the video I shot, Jimmy is there celebrating with Saturday Night Live mastermind Lorne Michaels as well as celebrity chef Mario Batali (who also happened to be celebrating a birthday).  Paul plays "Birthday" and then leads the crowd in a singalong of "Happy Birthday" to Jimmy who couldn't look happier.

A very cool moment indeed.  I'll post a full review of the show as well as more videos later

If you dug this go to the MostPeopleAreBlank Facebook page by following this link and click the "Like" button to join (as shown below) to be kept up to date on future posts, to comment, share and take part in our giveaways and contests! 

Click any photos to enlarge them to full screen.  Also follow on twitter @MostPeopleBlank   Then, of course, as always - Rock on and Enjoy - Paul

Hollywood Vampires - Coney Island, Brooklyn NY - July 10, 2016

Well you've all heard about this show already.  Hollywood Vampires at the Ford Ampitheater on the Coney Island Boardwalk last Sunday, July 10, 2016.



Hollywood Vampires is of course anchored by Alice Cooper on vocals and dual guitars of Johnny Depp and Joe Perry of Aerosmith (the touring band also includes Matt Sorum on drums, Robert DeLeo on bass, Tommy Henriksen on rhythm guitar and Bruce Witkin on keyboards and other assorted instruments).  



This was the show where Joe "collapsed on stage."  Well, not quite...

The show began with the second track off their self titled debut album, a tune called "Raise the Dead."  It was hot as balls in the semi circus tent design of the new theatre so I was heading back to my seat with waters (yes WATER...I know) so I wouldn't pass out during the show.  Got to my seat as they started in with their great cover of Spirit's "I Got A Line On You"



It was pretty exciting as we had kinda crap seats all the way in the back in section 302, but an usher came up to our group and asked if we wanted upgrades...for free!  To 10th row Orchestra section 102...Thank you concert Gods!



There's Alice! There's Johnny Depp!  There's friggin Joe Perry...but wait...a minute or so into the song is he kinda sitting on the corner of the drum riser not looking great...and then he walked around it behind the Marshall amps not to be seen again.  The band didn't blink an eye...(and no...I didn't get any shots of Joe...I figured I had the whole show to do so...damn)



Next up were a couple of David Bowie classics with "Rebel Rebel" and "Suffragette City."  Around this time I leaned over to my buddy Kev and yelled "Where the fuck is Joe Perry?"  I wasn't sure if this was one of those All-Star band kinda deals where various members only are on stage for certain songs...guess we'll see...



There's a giant video screen behind the band and as they play covers of these dead classic rockers, they show montages of classic images.  Jim Morrison popped up as "Five To One" / "Break On Thru (To The Other Side)" was played.



The band of course is great.  The legendary Alice Cooper handling lead vocals and telling short tales of his friends whose songs were being covered.  Johnny Depp looking and sounding great on guitar.  Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots fame absolutely holding down the rhythm section along with Matt Sorum of Guns n Roses on drums.  On Rhythm guitar there was Tommy Henriksen (filling in valiantly on many of the leads that would have normally been Joe Perry's) and keyboardist Bruce Witkin filled out the sound.  Super tight and super cool...but man, Joe Perry not being there definitely was a bummer...



I'm not sure exactly when the band actually acknowledged Joe's absence, I would say it was about an hour into the show when Alice said he had fallen ill.  We all now know he was rushed to a local hospital having gone into cardiac arrest.  



Another Hollywood Vampires original "As Bad As I Am" was followed by a tribute to Marc Bolan and T. Rex with covers of "20th Century Boy" and "Bang A Gong (Get It On)"



Surprisingly, they still played the cover of the Beatles "Come Together" next...I say this as it is the Aerosmith version of the song.  The other Aerosmith songs normally played would be cut from the set.



An amazing cover of Love's "7 and 7 Is" was next followed by what I thought was the one throwaway cover of the night, an okay version of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love"



The last original of the night, the fitting "My Dead Drunk Friends" then led into the powerful closing set of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" into The Who's "Pinball Wizard" and "My Generation" (with a little taste of "Won't Get Fooled Again" thrown in).  



The main set ended with Alice announcing they were going to do a song by the one remaining original Hollywood Vampire (basically made up of Alice and the aforementioned "Dead Drunk (rock star) Friends" back in the 70's) with a killer version of "I'm Eighteen."



Normally Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" would follow as the set ender, but it was nixed.  Also cut were the Perry led version of Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression" and Fleetwood Mac's "Stop Messin Around" which he would normally sing lead vocals on.  The encore would be next and the normal opener of "Train Kept A Rollin" was also cut, but we did get a special surprise.



Alice announced they would be back after a quick break with a special guest.  They returned to the stage with Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople.



Hunter opened the encore set with a cover of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" and then of course played the Mott classic "All The Young Dudes".  Alice played maracas during both songs letting Hunter do lead vocals.



The night ended with Cooper's "School's Out" (with acrowd singalong it of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall (part 2)" thrown in the middle).



It was cool to see Ian Hunter.  It was a bummer Joe was not there most of the show, but of course we all know now he is on the mend and expected to rejoin the tour shortly.



It was a damn good rock show.  (Keep scrolling down for the rest of the photos)




If you dug this go to the MostPeopleAreBlank Facebook page by following this link and click the "Like" button to join (as shown below) to be kept up to date on future posts, to comment, share and take part in our giveaways and contests! 

Click any photos to enlarge them to full screen.  Also follow on twitter @MostPeopleBlank   Then, of course, as always - Rock on and Enjoy - Paul

Grim Reaper - St. Vitus, Brooklyn NY - March 18, 2016 Review, Videos and Photos

In 2014, Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper started their U.S. tour at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn (See that review by clicking here).  Well they say things go in cycles, so here comes Grim Reaper in 2016 starting their U.S. tour at Saint Vitus once again on Friday, March 18.

Like any show at Saint Vitus, we started the night next door having some delicious and cheap Mexican and some cold cervezas (I highly recommend the chicken burrito!).  By the time we went to the club, the last of the opening bands was on as we checked out the merchandise.  Very cool shirts and tour poster!



The place was packed, but this was expected.  Last time they started the tour with two nights here and this single show definitely appeared to be sold out.  We thought we might have trouble getting a good spot but luckily when the opening band ended, everyone went for pee and beer breaks and we got up right next to the stage where guitarist Richie Yeates would shred away mere inches from my face (and camera) all night long (see the videos below).



Speaking of videos, I only brought my new iPhone to this show as the lights which line the back wall of the Saint Vitus stage and shine out towards the audience always make it a bitch to get good photos here, so instead I took a few still shots and mainly got some killer super up close videos to tell the story.



That story is titled "Heavy Metal Fucking Done Right!" (Yeah...it's a bit of a wordy title and probably wouldn't be featured on Oprah's book club, but most definitely rings true.)



Along with Richie on guitar (on his first visit/tour of America - hope it's going great Richie!), we have Chaz Grimaldi back on bass (M3 a mere month away Chaz...our beer will be cold and plentiful) and the skin bashing monster Paul White holding down the beat.  Then there's the metal legend himself, the voice, Steve Grimmett.



No first show of tour issues at all.  The band was tight and the vocals were killer!



The set was book ended by their two "hits" opening with "Rock You To Hell" and closing ninety minutes later with a massive audience sing-a-long of "See You In Hell". In between we had an even mix of tracks off of both of those albums as well as "Fear No Evil" (including the title track).  



Based on my memory and others on setlist.fm (I guess none of us took notes that night) I believe this was the setlist in order (it's at least 90% correct) along with the videos I took:

Rock You to Hell (video below)

Night of the Vampire
Lust For Freedom
Wrath of the Ripper
Now or Never
Fear No Evil (video below)

Liar
Let The Thunder Roar
Matter of Time
Rock Me 'Til I Die
Don't Talk To Strangers (Dio cover - video below)

Waysted Love
Final Scream (video below)

See You In Hell (video below)

After the set we headed out to the bar area and got to meet and chat with all the member's of the band. Great guys one and all.






This 30th Anniversary of "Fear No Evil" tour is still running for a few weeks and if it's coming anywhere near you and you don't go, well shit, then you can't be helped.



If you got tickets already or plan on picking them up, you're in for a night of metal done right.  

I look forward to the next tour ("Rock You To Hell" 30th anniversary tour?) and I'll be back up against the stage once again at Saint Vitus helping them kick it off.  Everyone who was at this show I'm sure will be too.

If you dug this go to the MostPeopleAreBlank Facebook page by following this link and click the "Like" button to join to be kept up to date on future posts, to comment, share and take part in our giveaways and contests! 

Click any photos to enlarge them to full screen.  Also follow on twitter @MostPeopleBlank   Then, of course, as always - Rock on and Enjoy - Paul

Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper - Saint Vitus, Brooklyn, NY - June 10, 2014 Concert Review and Photos

Tuesday, June 10, was the opening night of Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper mini US Tour.  This is a quick seven shows in eight nights run launching with a two night stand at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn.

Saint Vitus is a heavy metal bar and killer place to see a show.  You walk into the bar area which is long, narrow and dimly lit with video of metal concerts projected on one of the side walls (classic Black Sabbath, Dio and Guns n Roses on this night).  The bar back shelves are lined with classic mostly signed metal albums and the other side wall is the doorway into the concert area which I would guess holds in the area of 200 to 250 when packed out which it was on this night when Grim Reaper took the stage.

Just before the show I read that the last time Grim Reaper played New York prior to this night was in 1987.  I was at one of those shows (at the Mid Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY) 27 years ago.  It was a great triple bill right before Halloween headlined by Grim Reaper with Helloween and Armored Saint opening.  One of my friends who came to this show actually had the setlist from that gig and Steve got a kick out of checking it out all these years later when we met him after the band's set.

We were all excited for this gig, but wondered how Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper of today who hold up to the teenage memories of the band that kicked ass at that Poughkeepsie gig.  Would Steve still have the voice?  Would his current band have the chops of the original band that featured guitarist Nick Bowcott?  There was a brief moment a couple of weeks ago when it was announced Bowcott would actually be playing at these Brooklyn gigs, but shortly after it was said he had to cancel due to tendonitis. A lot of questions to be answered.

Perhaps knowing some might have such questions, Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper decided to immediately put them to rest by opening with one of their two most iconic tunes - "Rock You To Hell."

It sounded awesome!

Other than Steve on vocals, the lineup of Grim Reaper is Ian Nash on guitar, Chaz Grimaldi on bass and Paul White on drums.  The band is tight, energetic and appeared to love the reaction of the rabid metal fans in attendance who knew not only the two "hits" (which would open and close the show), but all the songs played on this evening.

Following up the opening title track to their third album were two other songs from that album, "Night of the Vampire" and "Lust For Freedom".  They then went into  a double shot from their debut album with "Wrath of the Ripper" and "Now or Never."

Between songs Steve continually thanked the crowd for coming out and the great response.  We then got a taste of their second album with the title track off of "Fear No Evil."

Next up was "Liar" and then Steve announced they were going to play something new, the title track from their forthcoming album "From Hell." (If "Hell" works why not stick with it!).

Three of the next four songs were back to the second album with "Never Coming Back", "Lay It On The Line", "Rock Me Til I Die" and "Matter of Time."

As stated earlier, Steve and the band sounded great, but if a vocalist ever wants to show he's still got the goods, there's always a litmus test that can't be faked - cover a song by Dio.  The band nailed "Don't Talk to Strangers" with the audience singing loudly along.

As the cheers died down after this Dio tribute, Steve announced he was going to play a song that he figured was one for the ladies and had a chuckle when one such lady in the crowd yelled out for "Suck It and See"!  If the band does look to add to their setlist when they come back to the states later in the summer for another leg of the tour, the most requested songs by the audience all night were "Suck It and See" and "Dead on Arrival" - neither of which would get played.  Instead the band played "Waysted Love."

Steve said how normally at this point, if there were a backstage they would leave the stage and come back for the encore, but since there was not they would just play through and launched into "Final Scream."

Then there was only one song left and as the opening notes of "See You In Hell" began, the audience who had been rocking out all night went apeshit and a good portion of the crowd jumped up on stage to sing along.  I love the look on Steve's Face in this shot during the audience invasion!

Steve allowed them stage time for about half the song but then somewhat shooed them off and everyone politely obliged, finishing their rocking back down on the floor.

Steve said the band would come out to the merchandise table for anyone who wanted to meet them or get stuff signed and they all did about 15 minutes later and it was a great way to end the night.

On this tour, all the band was selling was this shirt pictured below.  Evidently it was so popular it sold out after the third gig and their screen printing company was working emergency overtime to get shirts out for the rest of the tour.

It was a great night of rock and if Steve or any members of the band are reading this, we'd love you guys to come back to Poughkeepsie all these years later.  Maybe at the The Chance or The Loft at the Chance.  I'll be happy to pass on the info.

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